WATCH: Liam Neeson's audition to be a shopping centre Santa Claus

Despite a career defined by acting roles on the serious side, from Nazi-defying businessman to faith-questioning Jesuit priest, Irish actor Liam Neeson has always shown himself to have a good sense of humour when it comes to mocking his stardom. And now the Ballymena movie star is taking on his most challenging role to date: a shopping centre Santa Claus.

On an episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the late-night chat show kicked off with a sketch starring Neeson. Garbed in the traditional red-and-white Santa suit, the actor auditions for a role as a mall Santa, reciting the words to the holiday song Santa Claus is Coming to Town, bringing a new kind of gritty menace to the song’s lyrics.

“I see you when you’re sleeping. I know when you’re awake,” Neeson says, bringing his Taken intensity and upping the intimidation on ever line. And then he starts talking about a certain reindeer...